GIRL FOILS BURGLAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19985, 10 July 1939, Page 14

GIRL FOILS BURGLAR

WARNING TO FATHER PURSUIT IN DARKNESS By her presence of mind a girl of 13 years frustrated a burglar in his attempt to rob a' house at Westown. a suburb of New Plymouth. However, (he girts’'father, whom she warned, was able to get only an insecure* grip of the intruder’s overcoat, and lie made good 'his escape. The occurrence took place at the home ol' Mr. turd Mrs. W. F. Southern, of Tukapo street, at about 8.30 pan. Mr. Southam >is bailiff tit the New Plymouth Court. Two 'girls of the family, aged 14 and 13 yeans, sleep at one end of the verandah. Not long after thev had gone to toed the younger girl heard the click of the gate latch, after which a man walked up the path to the front of the house. He flashed a torch and looked about, then turned the key in the front door and went inside. The younger girl jumped out of bed, crept to the front door, and discovered that the man had gone into her parents’ bedroom, whore he was busily searching. She crept away and, clad' only in her nightdress, ran round the house, entered by the back door, and went lo her father in the dining-room.

The sound of Mr. Southam’s movements of ■ Investigation apparently disturbed the intruder. He came from the bedroom and Mr. Southam made a dive at him, tout failed' to obtain •ia. secure hold, and 'the man made off along the road. Mr. Southam pursued him for about 100 yards and then lost him. Nothing was stolen from the house.